"Jcarr" (jcarr)
08/17/2016 at 09:57 • Filed to: Planelopnik
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"Jcarr" (jcarr)
08/17/2016 at 09:57 • Filed to: Planelopnik | 12
| 8 |
Yesterday marked the 20 year anniversary of one of the greatest escapes you may have never heard of.
In 1995, Afghanistan was in the midst of a civil war. The Taliban had taken control of much of the country, including Kandahar International Airport.
On August 3rd, 1995, a Taliban MiG-21 intercepted an IL-76TD belonging to the Russian firm Airstan that was carrying 30 tons of weapons bound for Afghan president Rabbani. The MiG forced the transport to land at Kandahar and all seven Russian nationals onboard were taken prisoner.
Negotiations mediated by U.S. Senator Hank Brown began between the Russian government and the Taliban, with the Taliban demanding Russia release Afghan nationals they were allegedly holding. Russia denied holding any Afghan citizens and the talks soon broke down. Brown did, however, get the Taliban to agree to let the Russian crew maintain the IL-76.
Over the next year, the Russian crew maintained their aircraft in captivity, while also surreptitiously preparing it for flight and planning an escape.
On August 16, 1996, over a year after their capture, the Russian crew made a break for it. During their regular maintenance time, half of the Taliban guarding the crew left for afternoon prayers. The Russian crew overpowered the remaining guards as the pilot was able to start the APU by battery and then use the APU to start one of the four engines. With one engine started, the pilot was able to start the remaining three.
The IL-76 taxied quickly to the runway and began its takeoff roll. The Taliban moved a fire truck onto the runway in an attempt to block the aircraft from taking off, but the pilot was able to lift off and clear the truck. The Russians made a mad dash out of Taliban airspace and set a course for the UAE, where they landed safely.
The ordeal was eventually made into a Russian movie, a few clips of which you can see below.
The IL-76 that they piloted (RA-76842) is still in use today as a transport for the United Nations.
Monkey B
> Jcarr
08/17/2016 at 10:05 |
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needs a Hollywood adaptation, but the Capt. has to be a Scottish guy.
pjhusa
> Jcarr
08/17/2016 at 10:11 |
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Amazing. Quick question though: what do you mean by “The Russian crew overpowered the remaining guards”?
Roundbadge
> Jcarr
08/17/2016 at 10:12 |
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Awesome story, and you’re right. I’d never heard of this.
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Jcarr
> pjhusa
08/17/2016 at 10:16 |
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I'm not sure what happened exactly. They may have killed them or just incapacitated them.
Viggen
> Jcarr
08/17/2016 at 10:29 |
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That is a VERY stubby looking MiG-21UM in the video.
The Powershift in Steve's '12 Ford Focus killed it's TCM (under warranty!)
> Jcarr
08/17/2016 at 15:12 |
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I never realized that the area on the underside of the nose was still used on those aircraft. Is that the navigator’s position? Do the windows serve any purpose beyond giving the guy sitting there a great view?
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Viggen
> Jcarr
08/17/2016 at 17:28 |
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I had a long reply set up but lost it in frustration over my Jeep earlier.
I deployed to Kandahar and had the privilege of seeing Il-76s among other cargo aircraft. I believe they were Silk Way Airlines. While I was there we worked six days on, one day off. My day off was Monday and I worked nights, so I stayed up during the night on that day. Well, each Tuesday morning at around three or four, while I was usually on here or Jalopnik lurking or writing or playing games, the shrieking of an Il-76 landing and taxing would echo across the entire base. My barracks was about three miles from the active, but it sure sounded like I was right there when the Il-76s were around. Sometimes if they landed during the day while I slept, they would wake me. The Il-76s were one of the few aircraft that could wake me from a dead sleep.
Now I said I saw other cargo aircraft there. That included heavies like the C-5, C-17, An-124, and 747s. The C-5s and Il-76s were the most impressive to hear take off. Never really did get to see them take off because night time, dark, and stuff like aircraft, buildings and concrete rocket barriers in the way. Sounded like they gave everything they had to lift off the ground, much the same way the Il-76 did in this movie, though they were able to make full use of the runway.
wkiernan
> Jcarr
08/17/2016 at 17:37 |
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Hey, fellow Americans? See those kill-crazy bearded assholes?
That was Your Tax Dollars At Work.